Meet the Team

Libby Babet

Libby is the Founder of AGOGA. She is also the newest trainer for Channel TEN’s “The Biggest Loser: Transformed”, Women’s Fitness Magazine’s resident personal trainer and ‘entertrainer’ for the HIT Network. Libby is also the Founder of BUF Girls and Co-Founder of Chief Bar and This Natural Life.

Other qualifications include Certificates III and IV in Fitness from the Australian Institute of Fitness, Master Trainer, REVIVA First Aid and a range of specialist certifications including Punchfit, MMAXFIT, Nutrition and Postnatal Fitness.

Libby’s passion is all things health, fitness and nutrition… and her newest love is surfing! She has been training at the highest levels of sport since the age of 14 when she first represented Queensland in the Nationals for 200m and 400m. At the height of her competitive running, Libby was the second ranked female 400m runner in Australia. She also played and coached A Grade touch football, and represented Australia at the hip hop world championships!

Nic Mendoza-Jones

Nic is AGOGA’s General Manager, lululemon Ambassador and resident strength specialist. Once a corporate lawyer, Nic was seduced by kettlebells… and hasn’t looked back! From calisthenics and hardstyle kettlebell training to functional breathwork, Nic ensures his clients benefit from the most effective and efficient programming to improve their health & fitness.

While Nic’s passion for functional training spans many disciplines, his true calling is teaching clients how to reach high levels of strength. As Bondi’s very first StrongFirst SFG1, Nic’s training philosophy is that strength is a skill; a deliberate practice for your whole life.

Having majored in Anatomy for his Bachelor of Science at uni, Nic spent countless hours learning the intricacies of the human body including muscular and functional anatomy. This fuelled his passion for strength training, while also giving him ‘x-ray’ vision, allowing him to see and understand what’s really going on when you do that kettlebell swing.

John Field

John (aka ‘The Magician’) is AGOGA’s sporting bag of tricks! He’s a former professional beach volleyballer, kids tennis coach, competitor at the 1994 Aerobics Australia Championship (we’re hunting down photos), and also ran his own dojo in Main Beach, QLD where he shared his loved of martial arts.

Nowadays, John’s passion is for functional fitness and long distance running. Competitions, fun-runs, half and full marathons – he loves it all and is focused on helping train others to achieve their fitness and running goals. From assisting everyday athletes move better, to using his industry experience to help develop sporting movement patterns and improve mindset, John is a powerhouse of coaching energy and knowledge. Rock & Roll!

Veronika Larisova

Originally from Czech Republic, Veronika is a Nutritionist and Exercise Physiologist. She’s running mad and regularly competes in ultra-marathons and trail running – her dream is to run marathons around the world! Her experience includes the Gold Coast United soccer team, Gold Coast Hospital, Acceleration Australia and Rehab MX. She is a presenter for Exercise and Sport Science Australia, and a published author with the Australian Journal of Strength and Conditioning. She’s also Co-Founder of natural whole food protein bar Chief Bar.

Emily Rogers

She’s the AGOGA Hybrid Trainer because she’s got it all; Emily started her career as a professional dancer before moving to Australia where she deepened her fitness & yoga studies. From her graceful movement and dynamic speed to her incredible strength and mobility, Emily is a veteran Bondi trainer who’s constantly exploring and learning how we can train and utilise the body to move at its highest efficiency and ultimately become our best self.

Emily’s qualifications include Cert III and IV in Fitness with FIA, Diploma of fitness with Australian college of sport and fitness, Cert IV Remedial Massage, 200 hrs Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga teacher training with ‘All Yoga’ in Thailand, 150 hours continuous advanced training with BodyMindLife in Sydney, Barre attack and Pilates instructor, and Advanced First Aid.

Kalle Kortelainen

Originally from Sweden, Kalle has always maintained a very active and sporty lifestyle. Growing up in the frosty north, it was all about ice hockey during the winter months and soccer in the spring and summer. The versatility and tactics of the sports, along with a natural curiosity of the outdoors, laid the foundation for a passion for both high-intensity fitness as well as low-intensity endurance sports today. High-intensity plyometrics and MetCons for action, power, and speed. Endurance sports, such as Ironman triathlons, adventure races and ultra mountain marathons for perseverance, and exploration of the mind and body.

Metaphors and essentialism are the main pillars of his coaching approach. He started his trainer career in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2013 training triathletes in swimming and running. His qualifications include a Certificate III and IV in Fitness. Kalle has had the opportunity to both perform and compete at an elite level and work closely with some of the worlds most prominent endurance athletes. Through his experiences and adventures, he hopes to inspire people to explore their inner athletes and abilities as one.